Petrie School to present soprano Rebecca Turner with guest artist Virginia Thompson

On February 22 at 4 p.m. the Petrie School of Music will present the perfect Sunday afternoon entertainment in Daniel Recital Hall on the Converse campus. Soprano Rebecca Turner, and horn player Virginia Thomson will offer a wonderful but rarely heard combination of horn and voice. The recital is open to all and free of charge.

Rebecca Turner is an Associate Professor of Voice and also the Director of Converse Opera Theatre. Before coming to Converse, Turner had a full time professional career in opera, with over 500 performances to date. She continues to be an active performer and is in high demand as a teacher and vocal coach.

Guest artist Virginia Thomson is currently a horn teacher at West Virginia University. She is also an active soloist, recitalist, and clinician with a special interest in performing, commissioning, reviewing, and promoting new music worldwide. 

The recital repertoire is both appealing and eclectic. It will open with “Huntsman, What Quarry?” by modern composer Simon Sargon. Sargon provides a wonderful setting for the beautiful poetry of Edna St. Vincent Millay. This will be followed by Schubert’s Auf dem Strom (“On the River”), an enchanting piece that has become a staple in German Lieder.  Turner and Thomas will also perform three spiritual pieces skillfully set by Jacquelyn Sellers for horn and voice.

The final piece on the program will hearken back to one of the original purposes of the horn as a hunting instrument. Vincent Lachner’s “Forest Horn Call” is a favorite piece in horn and voice repertoire and will close the recital on an exciting note. Turner will also perform a set of her own favorite pieces by beloved American composer Samuel Barber.